Play devices for playing musical tunes when repeatedly actuated

Abstract

A toy for interacting with a series of bubbles to play a tune. The illustrated toy has a housing that includes a handle and at least two spaced-apart electrical contacts. Housed within the housing and electrically connected to the contacts and to one another in a circuit are a microprocessor chip, a speaker and a holder for a power source such as a battery. Each time the contacts strike a bubble, the circuit is completed, which causes a note to be emitted from the speaker. The microprocessor is programmed so that when the contacts sequentially engage a plurality of bubbles, a series of notes are emitted that create a tune. The illustrated toy also includes a blower mechanism for producing a plurality of bubbles for use with the toy.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for creating a tune using a toy apparatus that has preprogrammed electronics and a speaker that will play sequential notes in a series that combine to form a tune, the electronics and speaker being actuated to play one of the notes each time contact is completed across a pair of spaced-apart rails, a) blowing a plurality of bubbles,   b) sequentially engaging the bubbles one at a time with the spaced-apart rails so as to repeatedly complete the circuit and thereby play the notes of the tune.   
     
     
       2. A toy for interacting with a series of bubbles to play a tune, said toy comprising: a) a frame including a handle portion,   b) a bubble blowing mechanism mounted on the frame for producing a plurality of bubbles,   c) at least two spaced-apart electrical contact rails mounted on the frame,   d) a speaker mounted on the frame,   e) electronics, including a microprocessor chip, mounted on the frame, which when actuated send an electrical signal to the speaker,   f) means on the frame for supporting a power source,   g) means on the frame electrically connecting in a circuit the power source support means, the electronics, the speaker, and the contact rails so that when a power source is in the support means and a bubble engages and thereby electrically connects two of said contact rails to one another, the circuit is completed and the electronics are activated to send an electrical signal to the speaker, the electronics being programmed to produce, when repeatedly actuated, a predetermined series of electrical signals, each of said signals causing the speaker to deliver a predetermined note, the signals combining to produce a predetermined series of notes that comprise a predetermined tune.     
     
     
       3. The toy of claim 2 wherein said bubble blowing mechanism includes a ring structure at one end of said elongated frame. 
     
     
       4. The toy of claim 3 wherein said bubble blowing mechanism includes a blower arranged to direct a flow of air through the ring structure, a motor connected to the blower for actuating the blower, and electrical circuitry connecting the motor to the power support means. 
     
     
       5. The toy of claim 4 further including an on/off switch for controlling the operation of the motor. 
     
     
       6. The toy of claim 2 wherein said frame is an enclosed housing containing said speaker, said electronics and said power support means. 
     
     
       7. The toy of claim 6 where said housing also contains said bubble blower, a motor for driving the blower, and means for selectively providing power to the motor. 
     
     
       8. The toy of claim 2 wherein said contact rails are each an elongated section with said sections being disposed generally parallel to one another. 
     
     
       9. The toy of claim 8 wherein said contact rails are in the form of generally curved arcs. 
     
     
       10. The toy of claim 2 wherein there are three spaced-apart contact rails. 
     
     
       11. The toy of claim 2 wherein the bubble blowing mechanism produces bubbles at one end of the frame and there is a elongated handle at the other end of the frame. 
     
     
       12. The toy of claim 2 wherein the electronics are capable of selectively playing at least two different predetermined tunes. 
     
     
       13. The toy of claim 1 wherein the electronics are programmed to play a prearranged series of different tunes. 
     
     
       14. The toy of claim 12 further including means to select between said different tunes. 
     
     
       15. The toy of claim 14 further including means to preview the play of a selected tune. 
     
     
       16. The toy of claim 4 wherein said electronics are designed and arranged so that no notes are produced while the motor is energized. 
     
     
       17. The toy of claim 16 wherein said electronics and said motor are designed and arranged so that the power available from the battery is larger than the power requirement of the motor alone and of the electronics and speaker alone, but substantially lower than the combined power requirement of both (1) the motor, and (2) the electronics and the speaker together. 
     
     
       18. The toy of claim 8 wherein said contact rails are spaced approximately 0.1 of an inch from one another.